DREAM HOMES - A STEP BY STEP APPROACH FOR COMMON MAN

For quite sometime I have been discussing with one of my friends, who is on vacation and is planning to build a dream house in the portion of ancestral land partitioned for him. A successful professional with the backup of a happy, contented family, he could easily translate his dreams into squares and rectangles on paper!!!

At this stage we casually shared our opinion…which was a continuous process for some days. This took me back to my home renovation phase, few years ago…I am sure it will throw light into various aspects that anybody would encounter during a similar process…hope it will also form some basic tips for everyone venturing into this stage of life…As for a layman, who builds a dream home only once in a life time, it’s a journey on its own.

To formulate a plan to build ones house, start from scratch. Never rely on anybody. DO all your homework by self. Discuss with all family members including kids’ right from the beginning until finalization. Create a spirit of imagination and simplicity. Demonstrate if required on dimensions and anticipated positions…Always bear in mind about the recurring expenses for maintenance. It’s not advisable to convert all savings into brick and mortar. So design the budget accordingly. Also keep in mind that once our kids grow out, they may have entirely different views and tastes…

Those who doesn’t own or inherit a piece of land may initially begin with the idea of flats, apartments, villas and then into purchasing land and building on it. Here the major criterion is budget, the availability of which facilitates our decision. On the other side, I know many families, where all their kids are engaged overseas, mostly with siblings and the grandparents are left alone. In such cases also, they opt for flats and apartments which enhance their security and community living experience. It also helps reduce the feeling of isolation at an old age. Accessibility to educational institutions, transport facilities, hospitals, markets and so on also form an attractive component while choosing the location of land, flat or villa.

Generally, people prefer immediate vicinity or walk able distances from locations that offer basic amenities, which is again dependant on the budget. A vegetable shop, a grocery shop or supermarket, medical shop, auto rickshaw or taxi stand or bus stand are the most common. Then comes extent of land required and long term needs including investment options for kids…

Everyone, however rich, would have an allocated budget for the dream house. Initially we can visit recently built flats, villas, independent houses of different ranges and gather details on the materials used, the merits and demerits of each component, space demarcation, supplementary aids and pattern of layout. Always keep an eye on dimensions of interiors also, especially if it has caught your heart! As we decide on the location, it is always advisable to choose one that best suits your wavelength in similarity and capacity to the practical extent possible. Never try to be an odd man out in a locality!

Now start your own work plan. Decide the components required. Say for example, my friend X thought about an inevitable “long charupadi verandah”, another wanted it to be one of the best in his locality!! While yet another said there should be adequate light and ventilation, while his wife demanded only a bath tub and a modern kitchen!!! While some prefers a cozy exclusive office space, others wish the house to be spacious enough so that mobility is easy…Children think about adequate play area, kids room, while some may wish for a beautiful garden…Tastes vary with each individual even within a family. Some ladies prefer open kitchens and two living rooms- one general and another exclusively for the family. Those who have or intent to engage servants should consider their quarters also. Porch and Garage, drive in are other requirements. Those who wish to buy a car in the future must envisage space for that….Thus the initial plan is an exhaustive comprehensive and holistic effort where every team member has an equal and relevant role. To balance the budget, compromises can be made accordingly, after market assessments.

The range is as wide from spacious, cost effective Habitat or Cost ford technologies to limited, high quality construction. The floor may be red oxide or ceramic tiles or vitrified or marbonite; walls may be exposed bricks or partially plastered or well plastered. Interiors may be with antique or imported furniture or existing old furniture or branded furniture or built-in wherever feasible. Type of wood, paint or polish, the type of glass and frame, number of pieces, divisions required, type of anchor used are all to be thought about. Doors may be single piece or double or a mix. Kitchen slabs may be concrete or granite or modular type. Make sure ladies can close windows standing beneath the slabs…Also remember to use standard sizes for doors, slabs, staircases etc and unique ones wherever its an extra necessity. Paints can be the same or multiple that ensures color therapy also. The material may be distemper or emulsion of any suitable range.

Always ensure that the whole building is on the same level in every floor. Better there aren’t any sharp corners at all. Keep in mind the cleansing part of crevices, storage spaces, space beneath ladders, shelves etc. Think about the use of each room, alignment of proposed furniture and the lighting efficiency. Use task lights and concealed lights wherever required. Provide adequate plug points initially. Exposed neat and piped wiring is easy for maintenance rather than concealed type. Similar is the case with plumbing. Use ISI quality materials as cables and pipes.

Incase the living room is surrounded by rooms then take extra care to ensure adequate lighting therein by adjusting the roof level as it’s the place most used.

A Pooja or prayer room is better made spacious if you are God fearing and follow even minimum rituals. All members of the family should be able to assemble and pray together and conduct rituals with ease.

Study, reading space, office space, library, meditation or yoga space, exercise or fitness spot, computer, music, pantry, foyer, spaces for pets, newspapers, magazines, footwear, school bags, wet umbrellas, raincoats, brooms, brushes, and tools are all unique components. Similarly, there should be a consideration for spaces that are easily accessible from the outside also and undisturbed for tuition classes or dance and music sessions. More better if it’s in a position that normally spans within your attention always.

The number and facilities of toilets is another major factor. I have been to many houses wherein small nuclear families have built toilets more than the number of all inhabitants in that house…

I have also seen ladies struggling to have their late lunch and dinner in the work area of a house with more than 3500 sq feet plinth area, while their servants were busy cleaning served and used vessels just above their heads!!! This happened because they didn’t take into consideration a supplementary dining space in the kitchen or nearby even though their family is used to dine with strangers on most occasions at noon for years!

In situations where working mothers are involved lot of considerations are required. A breakfast table in the kitchen, arranging the study in such an area that she can monitor kids in between domestic chores, easy access to phone and entrance door, a bath attached bed room near kitchen for bedridden patients, an exclusive work area that can be left for the part-time servants who may do the chores in our absence, lockable storage spaces- with adequate space and lighting, accurate heights and distances for the kitchen triangle and shelves, proper positions for supplementary machines, a chair to recline during recess !!! - are all matters that would help working ladies in a long way.

Upper living rooms and kitchens can be of the open type wherever feasible.
Not only that it has a cost reducing factor, but also, there’s better circulation of air and better communication and visibility.

In houses designed with long verandahs and without sunshade slopes, ensure that the “ beautiful charupadis” are not drenched in rains and the whole space inaccessible and unusable during the rainy season.

Whatever these options may be, what is important is that we decide on our choices in every aspect, after assessing the pros and cons and minute details, understand and compromise, right from the beginning and become adamant never to change them…it is your own house and you are going to live there, not the ones who comment on it.

In cases where existing houses are involved, especially with aged parents or grandparents or kids and relocation during construction period is not easy, people opt for renovation of part of house, keeping the demolition and reconstruction of the existing part for future. This in my opinion is one of the worst decisions practically from all points…It is always advisable to relocate for a year, demolish the existing one completely, sell off all non-reusable materials and start fresh.

Once the land is finalized, we generally approach an engineer to draft our plan. It’s always better to clear the land. Peg the area for foundation and mark the outline for floor plan. Assess the space in the draft plan for actual dimensions. Now think and rethink on this draft plan before final approval. At this stage seek expert advice from architect in addition to the engineer, if not already consulted. Encompass landscaping of the exterior including drainage and water fountains or ponds and interiors also in the preliminary draft plan itself. When and whether you achieve the whole picture is not the criteria, rather that you have looked into every alternative and anything can be added on anytime without difficulty is the achievement here.

In my personal opinion, whether you believe in Vaasthu Shastra or not, try to leave the central point of the plot and building free. Keep the way from gate to entrance door free of all obstacles. Consider the wind patterns for positioning windows and permit entry of adequate sunlight into the building. Never permit exposed beams in the construction. Try not to use the space beneath staircase if it can be avoided. Also better avoid construction of bedrooms immediately above garage. Don’t stuff your house with materials and don’t keep clutter anticipating usage in future…


In our place, we generally start with building of compound walls, digging of wells followed by a tool room. Into this we can apply for temporary electricity connection. Sloping of land so that there is adequate light and ventilation and drainage is proper once the structure is completed is also important. Never make any changes hereafter in the proposal. Make mutual agreements of execution, ensure adequate cash flow and stick to all schedules. Never leave out any item for later, never remove or add on components. You have made your plan and you are aware of your resources, requirements and needs more than anyone else. Bear that in mind and move ahead with confidence. Scrutinize every aspect and monitor the whole process personally to the extent possible. Imagine completion of the dream house and its transformation into your dream home….Breathe this IN every moment…

P2=POLLUTION PROBLEM

Courtesy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB8VSyEU-VU
This video invites your attention to a tyre-retreading factory “Santhosh tyre works”, near “Beena Industries”. It’s along side Kannur Road and is in a posh locality of the city. Exactly opposite to the proud campus of Malabar Christian College and within walk able limits of Providence Girls High School, the location is highly populated with renowned and learnt personalities.

This video has been recorded by Dr. Shalen Mathur, himself an advocate, staying adjacent to this industry with his mother, who herself is also well versed in Law.

According to Advocate Jayarani, she had already exhausted innumerable ways to seek solution to this problem of “air and water pollution”, which she believes is causing tremendous breathing problems for her. Local media had also reported the issue, she said.

An Environment Impact Assessment may be initiated at least as a student’s field level research project to encompass and gather requisite details on the nature and composition of emissions and rule out or track the pollutants.

For this generation of primary data, like the type of industry, owner, period of operation, employee details, products generated and its usage, difficulties experienced by the inhabitants in the vicinity....has to be collected. This can also encompass guidance from local bodies and pollution control board, etc.

The present video needs to be upgraded with clear depictions on the location, response from other locals and all concerned.

There are many well versed environmentalists within Calicut city itself, like Dr.A.Achuthan, Dr.Shobeendran, Prof.Unnikrishna Nambeesan, etc; on State level like Prof.M.K.Prasad, Sugathakumari teacher, Dr.R.V.G.Menon and so on… You can also forward a copy of the same to eminent environmentalists like Dr.Vandhana Shiva, Smt. Medha Patkar, Smt. Arundati Roy,... for further guidance.

Various organisations like CSE (Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi), CEE (Centre for Environmental Education, Ahmedabad), IIEE (Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment), KSSP (Sastra Sahitya Parishad), SPEK (Society for Protection of Environment, Kerala)and many other NGOs are also working on similar lines.

Let us optimistically hope that an elite researcher would consider this as a challenging project for EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and in-depth study and scientific assessment at least as a commitment to clarify the doubts raised by the presenter. Simultaneously, let an enthusiastic media team does the follow up for adequate awareness creation and opinion generation. After the detailed study, feasibility of this industry in this thickly populated area that too in the vicinity of educational institutions can be assessed and emission control measures required, if any, recommended for adoption.

Elected office bearers of the locality who are already aware on the issue may take the lead and resolve the issue in a smooth manner or facilitate formation of a local action council pooling caliber of eminent personalities in the neighbourhood, if it is so necessary.

“PLEASE MAMMA, LET ME SLEEP FOR SOMEMORE TIME….”- A laymans view.

Courtesy:

“Ammae , njan kurachukoodi urangikotte…”

A Series of articles on the various aspects covering the trauma of pre-school children in Kerala depicted by Shri.Dinakaran Kombilath, in the Malayalam newspaper, Mathrubhoomi, printed edition, from July 29 to August2, 2007.

http://75.125.120.232/~mathinfo/static/parampara/parampara.php?id=1954&np=12

This article was quite timely when the nursery rather preschools were mushrooming like telephone booths all around the place, especially in our cities. An assessment of the situation in Calicut highlighted relevance of his sketch and the gravity of the issue. Detailed studies are a requisite to monitor kinter-garden education in our State with immediate intervention to streamline all essential aspects to ensure quality, quantity and uniformity to facilitate proper development of the upcoming generation…

Hope this article would generate public response from laymen, parents, learned scholars and educationists alike.

I record my observations as a layman cum parent of two kids of this age…
A list of probable points that can be covered during a study to assess the situation is also elaborated…

Primarily, there should be a public consensus on the extent of exposure required for a pre school student. The curricula must then be finalized keeping the average student in focus as the majority. Kids up to the age of six learn fast and what they imbibe at this age has a lasting impact on them. According to Sir Ken Robinson, all neonates are highly creative and talented. They develop progressively up to six years and thereafter there’s a gradual Genius Dip. The activities should be focused in such a way that kids get maximum exposure for social development. Formulation and popularization of a uniform syllabus and screening of preprimary teachers through eligibility criteria by a central agency are advisable.

Suggestions:

• School time for KG classes can be from 9.30-12.30 @ 5days a week.
• Children from the locality should have primary preference in school admissions.
• Infrastructure: standards should be formulated and ensured for the space in buildings, the pathways, accessibility, ventilation, and so on. In most KGs even toys and swings are showcase items preserved for display rather than for use!!! This has to be changed. Children can be given huge black boards at their level and numerable swings. The KG playground should be exclusively designed to help kids observe and learn from their surroundings.
• Teachers are role models and the nobility of this profession is more with those who handle the blooming buds. Ensure that the kids are cared for comfortably. The very style of dressing, behaviour, rude or polite nature of the teacher, all influence children a great lot. There should be an assessment of academic excellence along with controlled behaviour and child friendliness.
• Mother tongue should invariably be made the first language of communication even in CBSE and English medium schools, by LAW. Thereafter let children move on to English and Hindi or even Sanskrit and Arabic!!! This would improve their comprehension and confidence.
• At KG level individual attention is a must. The proportion of qualified teachers and trained ayahs (their child friendliness and cleanliness are equally significant) to the number of students enrolled has to be adequate.
• Lack of uniformity in fees and donations: A KG here needs recommendations even from Bishops house!!! Just as a prerequisite to consider the application for admission.
• Instead of huge school buses, let KG and primary children be taken in smaller vans and let them not be stuffed like packing non living things!!! The route and number of children should be designed effectively. At least one teacher or a responsible Ayah should accompany children in such a way that they are picked first and dropped
  last. Reduction of traveling time should be the primary concern.
• For snacks at 11am: an equal sharing opportunity can be envisaged with more stress on fruits and vegetables, occasionally salads. This can even be made compulsory.
• Weight reduction of school bags: Nursery bags can be limited to snacks and water bottle only along with raincoat on rainy days. Rhymes and story books can be kept at home and parents can help children with that on weekends. At school if children are put in small semi circles, they can share a reading book which has to be provided from the school. The colouring, writing and activity books should invariably be kept at school and home works should be totally avoided. A spare dress can be labeled and kept at school for use in case of any emergency.
• When children are taught stories or rhymes that are not in the prescribed books, copies of the same can be sent for reinforcement at home. This would help the laggards maintain their confidence.
• Outdoor Activities and Visits: Once every month children can be taken out to public places- zoos, parks, railway station (rush free small ones), circus, beach, bakery, fruit stalls, vegetable markets, super markets, farms, aquariums, magic shows, flower shows, tailoring units, local industries of the area and so on. At least once a term an outing would do more good.
• Attendance: let all the KG fellows with 85% attendance be categorized as A+. This would help children take rest during fever and use medicines with fewer side effects. Even otherwise this would help them take a break when severely tired. There shall not be any compulsions on sick and disabled children.
• An open house where parents and teachers can discuss about the children once every fortnight would help reduce stress on the youngsters. Most kids are reluctant to present their requirements or requests for support by themselves. In such cases additional facilitations to help them overcome their shyness would pave way for magical transformations.
• Rather than routine language and mathematical exercises, in KG let the children be more tuned in for socialization, character building, habit formation, gradual development of discipline, moral values & so on.{ e.g. not to eat toothpaste, balanced food, good habits, self care especially from pedophiles, table manners, respect for elders, courtesy and politeness, obedience and so on}
• The curricula should also preferably expose children to various sports- indoor and outdoor, art forms - traditional and modern, so that talents can be identified and nurtured effectively at the budding stage itself. Swimming, karate or martial arts like kalari payattu can be shown and its significance in general body coordination
  emphasized. Let them pick up any one activity of their choice and start when they are 8years old. Exercises for breathing and concentration can also be given an introduction to or even yoga can be initiated to keep physical-mental-mind-body balance.
• Let school time for KG be generally divided as 9.30-10.15am play, 10.15-10.30am: toilet and drinking water, 10.30-11.15am studies, 11.15-11.30 am toilet 11.30-11.45am for snacks. Ayahs should help children take and have snacks up to UKG.11.45-12.30noon can be for activities, music, colouring etc. During the budding age, kids naturally need support from their parents. All efforts should be made for better and smooth parent-teacher coordination.
• The assembly for the KG and primary classes should be separate and short and under shade ONLY. If joint, there should be a break in the school assembly, wherein the younger ones are sent of to class in between.
• There are situations where some teachers and their kith and kin handle tuitions for even KG kids!!
• There’s also a system wherein teachers form a group to mutually enhance their own kids demotivating other talented students.....

I am unaware, about the extent of effectiveness of our laws in force so as to achieve all this and whether new ones are to be formulated?? However, there should an agency to streamline the whole set up, inspect and rectify. Otherwise it’s the future of the upcoming generation that’s at stake as rightly pointed out by Shri. Dinakaran Kombilath.

Let our children be more comfortable and equally knowledgeable. Let them get educated in the true spirit....

TERRORISM - A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC

A US state department report says that India is in the top of the list of countries worst affected by terrorism. Militant groups vary from Jihadis to Maoists and Ulfa of Assam. The outdated law enforcement and legal system is a drawback of India in fighting terrorism, emphasizes the report….India is on the way to the formation of a federal agency to curb terrorism…
Courtesy:
http://www.calicutnet.com/articles/rajesh/india_where_terror_strikes.htm

Every citizen is bound to maintain the stability of one’s nation in all possible ways. It’s a shame that our present social fabric has degenerated to such a rotten state, wherein we have to think globally on terrorism and act locally to curb it. This extensive network from rural areas of a nation to the most sophisticated points on earth, by itself, is the greatest threat that remains a hassle to effectively contain violence. Cooperation and Coordination of all involved from local governing bodies to neighbouring countries and further to international agencies, in a timely manner is utmost essential to tackle the issue. The limitations therein should be resolved through global negotiations under a single window approach. Let us hope that UNO would rise and volunteer to strategically coordinate the same.

Transformation is long overdue. Effort to formulate a federal agency to control terrorism in our country is an earnest positive effort in this regard. The most significant requisite to contain national terrorism is sincere commitment of all involved, a strategic and holistic approach and firm resolution to strive for a positive end result against all odds. To quote Bishop Ethelbert Talbot, the most important thing is to have fought well… So let us take the lead and sow the seeds of non violence and nurture sustainable development for posterity.

There is a vicious societal circle where terrorism forms a major component. It joins hands with corruption, unemployment, poverty and hunger, personal insecurity, exploitation, socio economic divide and so on. However, the basic causes that lead to terrorism encompass criminal psychology and an urge for revenge when innocent victims are subject to bloodshed and so on. Hence any effort to control violence would warrant adoption of well planned innumerable measures from grass roots to the international strategic key points.

Locally, action groups can be formed wherein all children are brought under the Balavadis and Anganwadis followed by strict primary education. All teachers should be equipped to identify criminal psyches and extend basic to intensive moulding to children, depending on their range and requirement. There should be adequate follow up at all stages. Food should be served to the needy children and it should remain their right. This would help us save our next generation…

As for the present, youth, especially the unemployed masses should be counseled effectively to take up available vocations, facilitate skill development as far as possible. Government should enact policies and adopt liaisons to generate maximum employment opportunities in the state.

Educated youth and ladies can be trained and motivated as volunteer counselors to identify criminal psyches. This network would help identifying and locating rebel minded youth and bringing them back into positive life; identification of criminals of all sorts even in the most remote areas, including the sleeper cells. In this level also efforts should be initiated to overcome the vicious circle of poverty and hunger through possible means. Simultaneously strictly tap and follow their communications effectively.

All external channels that contribute towards charity, empowerment and development of all sorts should also be constantly under strict vigilance. There should be regular appraisals to assess beneficiaries, transporting agencies, pooling centre etc of arms and ammunition.

Laws can be reconstructed with care and enforced impartially without political interference.

Improving the technical back up to global standards and centralizing the alert control systems needs equal thrust.

Media too has a prominent role in this change over. Thrust on violence and depicting sympathy waves from hungama incidents should be curtailed both by media and politicians. Let media become the mentors for weaving a new social fabric for positive and effective development.

To step into all this and to proceed effectively in this endeavour, primary focus should invariably be on tackling corruption and eradication of poverty at all levels in all scenarios.